12 Mar Fire protection systems gaining importance at South African waste and recycling facilities

The adoption of advanced fire protection technologies at waste management and recycling facilities in South Africa is becoming increasingly important as operators seek to reduce risks to workers, equipment and infrastructure, according to DoseTech.

Fire protection and detection technologies play a critical role in such environments because they can identify heat zones and potential ignition risks linked to various waste materials, says DoseTech managing director Michael Feldon.

“Spontaneous combustion is a potential risk, depending on the nature of the waste product, and there are also potential ignition sources, such as materials that produce dust, textiles and powdered chemicals . . . fires are a thing in waste facilities and they happen regularly,” says Feldon.

He notes that developed countries, particularly in Europe, are increasingly integrating three-dimensional (3D) thermal cameras into fire protection systems to detect heat before smoke or combustion occurs.

Feldon adds that South African waste management and recycling facilities should consider adopting similar innovations to strengthen safety in their operations.

The 3D thermal cameras can be used to monitor waste-related processes for potential hazards and support faster operational decision-making, allowing employees to address or prevent fire risks before they escalate.

If irregularities that could lead to a fire are detected, the system can alert facility personnel or automatically intervene by activating sprinkler systems near or above the affected area.

“In waste facilities, the waste either goes to a burning station or a recycling station to be processed. Waste substances that can’t be recycled go to a burning station and, occasionally, if the waste-to-energy infrastructure is installed at that plant, electricity is produced from the burning waste.

“The products that can be recycled go to a recycling facility to be processed and are then sent on to mills, factories or manufacturers to be used in new products,” says Feldon.

He adds that facilities equipped with burning stations have created ‘incredible’ demand for fire protection technology.